Dosing Device For a Toilet

ABSTRACT

A dosing device for dosing chemicals ( 9 ) into outlet water for flushing a toilet having a toilet bowl. The dosing device comprises a place of dosing, at which outlet water and the chemicals are mixed during a flushing of the toilet. The place of dosing is arranged between an inlet to an overflow pipe ( 5 ) and an inlet to the toilet bowl.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a flush actuator unit having an inletfor introduction of chemicals for dosing chemicals into water atflushing of a toilet, where a dosing arrangement is connected to theinlet, and where connecting means are provided, connecting the inlet toa place of dosing.

DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART

Toilets typically include a toilet bowl, which is adapted to receivesolid and liquid waste and water, and a cistern, which provides areservoir for the water, for flushing the waste from the bowl. Aflushing device is mounted within the cistern, which is operable by auser from the outside of the cistern to initiate the flushing. Theflushing device is also arranged to regulate the amount of waterentering the bowl during the flushing process. A fill valve is alsocommonly mounted in the cistern to refill the cistern with apredetermined amount of water to be used during the next flushingprocess.

The flushing devices typically include a flush or outlet valve, a floatvalve and an actuation mechanism. By operation of the actuationmechanism, the outlet valve opens to release water from the cistern intothe bowl and closes when the water reaches a predetermined lower levelin the cistern. Similarly, the float valve opens when water is releasedfrom the cistern and closes when the water reaches a predetermined upperlevel in the cistern.

A dual-flush toilet provides the possibility to select between a largeflush liquid volume for solid waste and a small flush liquid volume forliquid waste. Dual-flush toilets include a selection device mounted onthe outside of the cistern, which selection device is connected to theoutlet valve at the bottom of the cistern.

To ensure good hygiene of the toilet bowl a chemical substance,typically including both deodorant, anti-lime deposit, and sanitizingsubstances, is often mixed with the water. One solution for the dosingthe chemical in the water includes a separate device containing thechemical substance that is introduced on the inside of the toilet bowl.Another solution comprises having an inlet dedicated for the purpose ofintroducing the chemical substance into the cistern. Still anothersolution comprises removing the lid of the cistern to apply the chemicalsubstance into a fixedly mounted dosing device.

The chemical substance can be either in liquid or solid state, anddissolves when it contacts outlet water or is mixed with outlet water.The conventional devices for introduction of chemical substances toensure good hygiene of the toilet bowl suffer from different drawbacks.The solution of placing a dispenser inside the toilet bowl gives aninefficient and uncontrolled way of dispensing the chemical substances.Having a separate inlet for introduction of the chemical substancesrequires a complicated construction of the toilet. Having a fixedlymounted dispenser device inside the cistern makes the refill of thechemical substances complicated.

WO-A1-03/044291 discloses a dispenser adapter for detergent dosing intoa toilet cistern. The dispenser that is arranged inside the cistern andattached to the top of the toilet cistern comprises a bushing forattaching to the cistern, a dosing cage containing the detergent and aremovable cap or closure for closing the dosing cage from the outside ofthe cistern. U.S. Pat. No. B1-6,374,426 discloses a dispenser for dosageof a chemical liquid for cisterns of toilet bowls. The dispenser has aseparate opening for filling of the chemical liquid into the cistern forsanitizing of the toilet bowl. U.S. Pat. No. B1-6,339,850 discloses adevice for dispensing a solid chemical for sanitizing of a toilet bowl,where the device is located inside the cistern of the toilet. U.S. Pat.No. 4,962,549 discloses a device for sanitizing of a toilet bowl, wherethe device is to be positioned in the cistern of a toilet.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the invention to provide an arrangement for simpledosing of chemicals chemical into outlet water for flushing a toilet.

According to a first aspect of the invention, the object is achieved bya dosing device for dosing chemicals into outlet water for flushing atoilet having a toilet bowl. The dosing device comprises a place ofdosing, at which outlet water and the chemicals are mixed during aflushing of the toilet. The place of dosing is arranged such thatchemicals, when held at the place of dosing, only get into contact withoutlet water in movement when the dosing device is mounted in the toiletbefore an inlet to the toilet bowl.

The place of dosing may be arranged such that the chemicals whenintroduced into the dosing device is held by a holding device at theplace of dosing. The place of dosing and the holding device may bearranged between an inlet to an overflow pipe and an inlet to the toiletbowl such that the outlet water and the chemicals are brought intocontact during a flushing of the toilet. The holding device may bearranged in an overflow outlet of the overflow pipe such that theholding device, and the chemicals when received therein, is brought intocontact with the outlet water entering into the overflow outlet during aflushing of the toilet. The overflow pipe may be connected to an outletvalve and may be moveable for opening the outlet valve for introducingoutlet water into the place of dosing during a flushing of the toilet.Thus, the outlet water is not in contact with the chemicals when saidwater is contained in a cistern of the toilet. The holding device may bearranged to hold the chemicals in a liquid or a solid state. The holdingdevice may be a receptacle arranged at the place of dosing. Thereceptacle may be provided with an arrangement of self-cleaning flangesarranged between the receptacle and the overflow pipe. Alternatively,the holding device is a mesh, a container, a pole or a cord. The holdingdevice provided by a pole may have a fastening arrangement for attachingthe chemicals to the pole.

The dosing device may comprise an inlet for introducing the chemicals tothe place of dosing, the inlet being accessible from the outside of thetoilet. Furthermore, the dosing device may comprise a flush actuatorunit for initiating flushing of the toilet, said flush actuator unitbeing accessible from the outside of the toilet and may comprises theinlet for introducing the chemicals. The inlet may be connected by aconnecting arrangement to the place of dosing.

An advantage of mixing the water and the chemical in the overflow pipeand not in the cistern for the sanitizing of the bowl is that only theoverflow pipe needs to be resistant to chemicals, not the entireflushing device. This gives a better and cheaper manufacturing of theflushing device.

Yet another advantage is that the normal flushing path of the water isused to add/mix chemicals into the water on its way to the bowl. Anotheradvantage of mixing the chemical with water in the overflow pipe is thatthe quality of the water in the cistern is maintained on a high leveland thus fulfills the European water quality standard EN1717.

An advantage of the invention is that the actuator unit and the inletfor the chemical are arranged in a single device, which makes themanufacture of the device simpler and cheaper.

Still another advantage of the invention is that no additional openingneeds to be made in the porcelain of the toilet, which makes themanufacture of the toilet simpler and cheaper.

Still another advantage of the invention is that it works equally wellfor a flushing of a large quantity of water or to initiate the flushingof a small quantity of water.

Still another advantage of the present invention is that the finalquantity of flushing water includes a concentrated dosage of chemicalsubstance since the water mixed in the chamber will be “pushed out ofthe chamber as the flushing mechanism completes the flushing and closesthe passage for further water inflow.

Further embodiments of the invention are defined in the dependentclaims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further objects, features and advantages of the invention will appearfrom the following detailed description of the invention, referencebeing made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of the flushing mechanism;

FIG. 2 a is a perspective view of an actuator comprising an inlet forintroducing chemicals to the dosing device;

FIG. 2 b is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of theactuator comprising the inlet for introducing chemicals to the dosingdevice;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of the dosingdevice according to the invention; and

FIG. 4 is another cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of thedosing device according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 illustrates a mechanism 1 for flushing a toilet in a principalmanner. The mechanism 1 is part of a flushing device to be mountedwithin a cistern of a toilet. The flushing device has a longitudinalaxis from the top of the cistern to the bottom thereof. In the top aflush actuator unit 2 is arranged for initiating the flushing of thetoilet. The flush actuator unit 2 may comprise a rocker button, which ispivotally attached to a frame, which may be inserted into a hole of thecover. Alternatively, two separate buttons are used, which act on apivotally arranged lever. The rocker button or the two separate buttonsare provided with a dual-flush mechanism to either initiate a flushingof a large quantity of water or to initiate the flushing of a smallquantity of water. Yet another alternative is to have a conventionalbutton that actuates a flushing with a single quantity of water.

To the flush actuator unit a pipe 3 is connected that extends downwardsand connects to a directing means for directing chemicals introducedinto the pipe 3 to a place of dosing. The directing means may be a fixedor displaceable overflow pipe. Alternatively, the directing means is amoveable pipe connected to and arranged to lift the outlet valve, butnot used as an overflow pipe. In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the directingmeans is an overflow pipe 5 that extends downwards to an outlet 4 of theoverflow pipe 5. The outlet 4 of the overflow pipe 5 is provided with anoutlet valve 6, which prevents water to enter into the toilet bowl. Whenthe flush actuator unit 2 is actuated, a lifting means will urge aconnecting means that lifts the overflow pipe 5 and the outlet valve 6towards the top of the cistern in the direction of the longitudinal axisof the flushing device, wherein water will flow out of the cisternthrough a passage 16. A major part of the water from the cistern willflow towards the toilet bowl and flush the bowl. A minor part of thewater passing through the passage 16 will flow upwards through theoutlet 4 of the overflow pipe 5 by a undertow into the overflow pipe 5.

In FIG. 2 a the top part of the flush mechanism is shown including theflush actuator unit 2 that comprises the rocker button and a removablelid 7 covering an inlet 8 for introducing a chemical substance into thecistern of the toilet. Furthermore, a chemical rod or chemical tablet 9is shown. The chemical rod 9 can be introduced into the inlet 8 bydropping the rod through the inlet.

FIG. 2 b illustrates an alternative embodiment of a flush actuator unit2 b that comprises an inlet 8 b for introducing a chemical substance 9into the cistern of the toilet, i.e. to the place of dosing. The rockerbutton is removable and flush actuator unit 2 b is shown in FIG. 2 bwith the rocker button removed. The rocker button may be arranged tocover the inlet 8 when mounted for operation. Thus, the button is simplyremoved for introducing the chemical substance into the cistern of thetoilet.

Still an alternative solution for accessing the place of dosing from theoutside of the toilet is that the lid or the cistern comprises aseparate hole connected to an inlet of the overflow pipe 5 forintroducing chemicals therein.

According to the invention, the place of dosing, wherein chemicals aremixed with outlet water, may be between the inlet to the overflow pipe 5and an inlet to the toilet bowl. Furthermore, the chemicals may bestored at the place of dosing. I.e. the place of dosing is in thetransportation path of the outlet water, such that the chemicals andoutlet water in movement are brought into contact only during theflushing process of the toilet. Thus, outlet water contained in acistern of the toilet is not in contact with the chemicals until itflows out of the cistern.

The rod 9 may be directed by the pipe 3 into the overflow pipe 5 andfurther by gravity into a receptacle 10 arranged in the vicinity of theoverflow outlet 4, i.e. the place of dosing. The rod 9 can also beattached to a pole (not shown) and be pushed down to the receptacle 10.The means for holding or fastening the rod to the pole can be a jammingarrangement, a gripping arrangement, a screw arrangement penetrating thechemical or any other mechanical arrangement for holding a tablet orrod. The chemical tablet or rod 9 can also be placed in a container orattached to a cord and the cord is used to lower the rod or containerthrough the inlet 8 and down to the receptacle 10. The chemicalsubstance can also be in liquid state and then be filled into acontainer that is lowered through the inlet 8 and down to the receptacle10.

In FIG. 3 a lower part of the flushing mechanism of FIG. 1 is shownincluding the overflow outlet 4, the outlet valve 6 of the overflowoutlet 4, the overflow pipe 5 connecting the inlet 8 to the overflowoutlet 4, and a receptacle 10 for receiving the chemical rod 9. Achemical rod 9 may be located in the receptacle 10. A lower portion orend 11 of the receptacle 10 is facing the overflow outlet 4. The lowerportion of the receptacle 10 is open to allow water from the overflowpipe 5 to pass in case of failure of the inlet valve and there is a needfor overflowing. An upper portion 13 of the receptacle 10 is providedwith ribs 14 to position the chemical rod 9, or a container with thechemical substance, in the receptacle 10. The ribs 14 interact withcorresponding ribs 15 (shown in FIG. 4) arranged on the overflow pipe 5.The ribs 14 and 15 overlap each other so that the ribs 15 enter into thespaces between the ribs 14 and during a flushing removes anythinglocated there, e.g. particles from the chemical tablet or rod 9.

FIG. 4 also shows the lower part of the flushing mechanism from FIG. 1,but when a flushing has been initiated. The outlet valve 6, the overflowpipe 5 and the ribs 15 are all lifted and separated from the ribs 14 bythe flushing mechanism making water to enter into the overflow pipe 5 bythe undertow created when the outlet valve and other part of theflushing mechanism is lifted. The water will overflow the receptacle 10through the spaces between the ribs 14, cleaning the space, andpartially dissolve the chemical substance contained in the receptacle10. The water mixed with the dissolved chemical substance is thereafterpushed out of the overflow pipe 5 through the receptacle 10 and theoutlet 4 and further transported via the distributor passage 17 to thetoilet bowl for sanitizing by normal means.

If a liquid chemical substance is contained in the receptacle instead ofthe solid chemical substance a portion of the liquid will mix with waterand otherwise the principle is the same as discussed in connection withthe solid chemical substance.

As an alternative the receptacle 10 is removed and the chemical 9 isfreely movably located in the overflow pipe or distributor passage 17and will typically dissolve completely at the flushing, i.e. thedisposable article, which might be good if the user believes that he/sheshould initiate the sanitizing of the toilet bowl or if a especiallypowerful chemical substance is used for major sanitizing of the toiletbowl.

Another alternative is that the receptacle 10 is also removed, butanother holding means is located over the outlet valve to hold thechemical. This holding means can be a circular mesh having the samediameter as the inside diameter of the overflow pipe. The chemicaldissolves slowly by each flushing and finally the chemical is so smallthat the rest of the chemical will follow with the outgoing water.

A third alternative is that the overflow pipe is arranged to have theform of the received chemical or being arranged so that the overflowpipe have sections of different diameter so that the overflow pipe willhold the chemical in place by its design. The chemical will dissolve bythe overflowing water as earlier described. When the rest of thechemical is smaller than the outlet from the overflow pipe, it will betransported out of the overflow pipe by the outgoing water.Alternatively can the outlet of the overflow pipe be provided with aperforated cover.

A fourth alternative embodiment is that a mesh or another perforatedmedia is arranged in the overflow pipe or in the distributor passage 17so that the chemical substance is transported to this location via theoverflow pipe. The chemical dissolves slowly by each flushing andfinally the chemical is smaller than the holes of the mesh or theperforated media that the rest of the chemical will follow with theoutgoing water.

A fifth alternative embodiment is that the chemical is arranged freelyin the place of dosing by and of the previously shown embodiments andthat the chemical is lifted by the water entering into the place ofdosing to ensure that it is the final quantity of water to flush thetoilet bowl that includes chemical mix.

In the description, relative terms, such as upper and lower, have beenused for indicating the mutual relationship between different parts ofthe invention when positioned for operation. As is understood, the partscould have another mutual relationship when the invention is notpositioned for operation.

The present invention should not be limited to the shown embodiments;several modifications within the scope of the appended claims arepossible.

1. A dosing device for dosing chemicals into outlet water for flushing atoilet having a toilet bowl, said dosing device comprising a place ofdosing, at which outlet water and the chemicals are mixed during aflushing of the toilet, wherein the place of dosing is arranged suchthat chemicals, when held at the place of dosing, only get into contactwith outlet water in movement when the dosing device is mounted in thetoilet before an inlet to the toilet bowl.
 2. The dosing deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein the place of dosing is arranged such thatthe chemicals when introduced into the dosing device is held by aholding device at the place of dosing.
 3. The dosing device according toclaim 2, wherein the place of dosing and the holding device are arrangedbetween an inlet to an overflow pipe and an inlet to the toilet bowlsuch that the outlet water and the chemicals are brought into contactduring a flushing of the toilet.
 4. The dosing device according to claim3, wherein the overflow pipe is connected to an outlet valve and ismoveable for opening the outlet valve for introducing outlet water intothe place of dosing during a flushing of the toilet.
 5. The dosingdevice according to claim 2, wherein the holding device is arranged inan overflow outlet of the overflow pipe such that the holding device,and the chemicals when received therein, is brought into contact withthe outlet water entering into the overflow outlet during a flushing ofthe toilet.
 6. The dosing device according to claim 2, wherein theholding device is arranged to hold the chemicals, which are in a liquidor a solid state.
 7. The dosing device according to claim 2, wherein theholding device is a receptacle arranged at the place of dosing.
 8. Thedosing device according to claim 2, wherein the holding device is amesh, a container, a pole or a cord.
 9. The dosing device according toclaim 6, wherein the holding device is a pole having a fasteningarrangement for attaching the chemicals to the pole.
 10. The dosingdevice according to claim 7, wherein the receptacle is provided with anarrangement of self-cleaning flanges arranged between the receptacle andthe overflow pipe.
 11. The dosing device according to claim 1, whereinthe dosing device comprises an inlet (4) for introducing the chemicalsto the place of dosing, the inlet being accessible from the outside ofthe toilet.
 12. The dosing device according to claim 11, furthercomprising a flush actuator unit for initiating flushing of the toilet,said flush actuator unit is accessible from the outside of the toiletand comprises the inlet for introducing the chemicals.
 13. The dosingdevice according to claim 11, wherein the inlet is connected by aconnecting arrangement to the place of dosing.